The Chicago Cubs head to Great American Ball Park on Friday, July 10, for a 7:10 PM ET showdown with the Cincinnati Reds. Shota Imanaga gets the ball for Chicago against hard-throwing Reds right-hander Hunter Greene. This is a mid-season NL Central matchup with real standings implications — the kind of game where a road win can shift momentum in a division that rarely stays settled for long. Cubs fans can catch it on Marquee Sports Network or tune in on 104.3 The Score.

Probable Pitchers: Imanaga vs. Greene

This is a legitimate pitching duel on paper, and both starters are capable of controlling a game from the first pitch. Shota Imanaga has been one of the Cubs' most reliable arms since arriving in Chicago, bringing a deceptive delivery and strong command of multiple pitches. He consistently limits hard contact and keeps his pitch counts manageable deep into games.

On the other side, Hunter Greene is one of the more electric arms in the National League. His fastball regularly touches triple digits, and when his breaking ball is on, opposing lineups have little answer. The Cubs will need disciplined at-bats early — letting Greene work, fouling off pitches, and making him earn every out — rather than chasing his heater out of the zone.

Cincinnati Reds Starting Lineup

• Elly De La Cruz — SS
• Sal Stewart — 1B
• Spencer Steer — CF
• JJ Bleday — LF
• Eugenio Suárez — DH
• Tyler Stephenson — C
• Noelvi Marte — RF
• Edwin Arroyo — 2B
• Ke'Bryan Hayes — 3B

Keys to Watch for the Cubs

Handle Elly De La Cruz at the Top

De La Cruz leading off is a problem the Cubs need to solve early. He has the speed to turn a walk into a scoring opportunity and the raw power to make any mistake over the plate disappear into the Ohio River. Imanaga will need to be sharp and unpredictable against him every time through the order.

Offense Against a Power Arm

Greene is the kind of pitcher who can make a lineup look overmatched if hitters come in underprepared. The Cubs need to work counts, stay through the ball, and look for Greene to offer something hittable in the zone. Stringing together quality at-bats — not just swinging for the fences — is how you beat a pitcher like this.

Imanaga's Efficiency

If Imanaga can get through five or six innings without burning through his pitch count, the Cubs' bullpen depth becomes an advantage. The Reds' lineup has enough capable bats throughout — Steer, Bleday, and Stephenson included — to punish any loss of command in the middle innings.

Prediction

This one figures to be low-scoring and decided late. Both pitchers are capable of carrying their teams deep into the game, which puts a premium on every base runner and every sequence in the bullpen. Give the edge to the Cubs in a close game — Imanaga's consistency on the road is a real asset, and if Chicago can scratch across a couple of runs early against Greene, the momentum could be theirs to protect. Cubs 3, Reds 2.